Apparatus for inserting dry-cell cores into cans



1,637,711 H. A. RING APPARATUS FOR INSERTING DRY CELL comzs INTO CANS Aug. 2, 1927.

Filed June 18, 1926 lI WENTOR han's- A. Ring BY 1 p )QMW ATTORN EYS Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STAT n i 1,637,711 Es: PATENT O F QEZ HANS A. RING, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BURGESS BATTERY CO'MPA HY,

-01 MADISON, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF "WISGONSIl-W Y I APPARATUS r03 msnn'rms nmrLcELL cones intro loans. H

Application filed Jime 1a, 1926. seri ino. 116,852;

This invention comprises an improved method and apparatus {or mechanically inserting dry cellcathode cores or bobbins into dry cell cans during the assembly operation.

5 My apparatus may be used as part of a machine designed to assemble sh light cells automatically. In the accompanying drawing,'Fi g. 1 is a front elevatlon of the assembly apparatus, partly in section; Fig.

231s a plan view lon'the line 22, Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and l show the plunger different positions; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section of an ordinary dry cell,v I

A cylindrical dry cell of thebag type is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5 It consists of a can 1, in which there is a core 2 comprising a carbon rod .3 surrounded by a depolarizing mixture of conductive carbonaceous material and a depolarizer, such as manganese dioxide, conducting salts, and water. ,Thecore may be surrounded by a bibulous, envelope 4 of cheesecloth, tissue paper, or hardened dip,'such as is described in U. SqPaten-t No. 1,316,597, and may be insulated at the bottom by an attached paper Washer; or by folding the bibulous envelope across the bottom of the core, or by an insulating layer of paraflin or suitable wax 5. In lien of the described bottom construction an insulating washer may be used at the bottom of the can, the core resting on this washer. A suitable gelatinous or pasty electrolyte 6 separates the core from the can. This electrolyte may be that described in U. S. Patent No. 1,292,764'and may be compounded as descri'bedin 5. Patent No. 1,370,056. An expansion space 7 is'topped by .a Water p'roofed Washer 8 supporting a wax or pitch seal 9.

4 My invention covers an improvement in the method of introducing the .core into the caat pushing the core against-frictional resistance. In my improvement the frictional resistance is formed in part, at least,

b the can into which the core is introduced.

"l -his method'not only simplifiesthe apparatus but it overcomes any, tendency to, break theinsulating WZLX .5, when tha-tcore construction is used. Also the cores may vary in diameter Without interfering withthe operation of the device. f I

he apparatus consists of a core holder '10 which operates like a humanhand and can Fbeineohanically moved up and down by timing mechanism not'show'n in detail.

It has a spring-actuated hinged member 11 forming a aw which opens sl ghtlyas a maybe obtained by means ofthe" Spring s' 'g inst the hinged" member 11", the swinging movement of which is controlled by an adjustable stop 15. At-,' tached to the bottom of the hinged member is a small finger 16 which can serve to defiect or thrustthe core laterallyi p "The sequence of operations is asfollows: The core 4 is pushed into the jaw of the core holder while can 1 is being placed in position underneath and registering with the core (see Fig. '2). The can'usually contains the requisite amount of liquid electrolyte 6. The can must be held tightly enough 'to withstand the side pressure of the core-while the latter is being lowered into the can. The

plunger'l7, which pushes the core through the core holder into the can, should behol lowed out so that itsdownward pressure" does not come on the carbon rod3, but comeson the body of the core. It may also be cut away on the side toward pusher 13, as show-m to shorten its strokegand to allow the-core to be pushed into the holder fro-Inthat side as described. The core holder andplunger' are so actuated th-atthey start their down Ward stroke 'at the same time,- the-plunger traveling at the higher speed; The core holder stops at a point slightly above the can i, (Fig. with the fingerldpositioned inside the can. The plunger or ejector 17 then pushes the-core from the jaw of the core holder intothe can against thefrictional resistance of the jaw sides. As the core clears the fiaw, finger '16, actuated through hinged member 11- by spring 1-4;

with the inner wall of the can 1. The de sired friction-alresistance is then furnished in large part by the can. The plunger pushes "the core-into the can until it: isiree'z leased from the finger 1.6, when it drops to the bottom of the can. If electrolyte is present in the can, the core may be released as soon as it touches :the liquid, so that itsettles pushes the-core 4 laterally into engagement slowly by gravity to the can bottom, the elecl5 i H p the immovable aw of theholder, the core is traveling at. a slow rate.

trolyte wellingup between the core and the can. t

This electrolyte is, of course, corrosive, and there is disadvantage in having it splash or. spill on the outside of the caneor on operative parts of the machine itself. There is advantage in having the plunger 17 start downward with :a relatively rapid movement, and then gradually slow up in its speed of travel as the core approachesand enters the surface of the electrolyte in the can. This result is attained by properly timing the movements of core holder 10 and plunger 17 and by regulating their speed of travel so that atthe time the coreleaves contact with Thereafter the downward travel of the core can be very slow to permit the electrolyte to well up around the core without squirting or spilling out of the can. Friction engagement between the core and finger l6 and between the core and the opposed inside of the can keeps the core from dropping unrestrained until after it enters the electrolyte. Then it settles by gravity. The subsequentstep of putting on the usual paper washer centers the core in the can. s

These cores of molded 'mix are compara tively fragile and therefore subject to me chanical damage if roughly handled. This is may besodesigned that the core may be in lyte to the bottom of the can, the electrolyte meantime Welling up around the core to substantially encasethe core as shown in Fig. 5.

v After the core is released, the core holder andplunger return to their original position g- M l i "It is readily apparent that the apparatus frictional contact with; the can during the entire or any part of its descent. The duration of frictional contact with the i can may be variedby. varying the distance to which the coreholder is lowered... The closer itcomes to the can the shorter the time of frictional contact between .the core and the can and the shorter the plunger travel through the holder. The. described apparatus gives the minimum frictional'contact with the can and the corresponding plunger travel, but various changes in proportions will readily suggest themselves, and various elements of this preferred form of apparatus above described may be altered Without departing from the spirit of my inventionv as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In mechanism for inserting a dry cell cathode core into a can, a core-holder with a core-deflecting finger thereon.

In mechanisn1 for-inserting a dry cell cathodecore into a can, the combination of a spring actuated-core-holding jaw, and a deflector attached to the spring actuated element of said jaw.

3. In'mechanism for inserting a dry cell cathode coreinto a can, the combination of aspring actuated core-holding jaw, a deflector attached to the spring actuated ele-V n ent ofsaidjaw, and a plunger movable into "said jaw to ejectia coretherefrom. i

'4. In mechanismfor inserting adry cell cathode core intofia can, the combination of spring actuated core-holding jaw, a deflector attached to thespring actuatedelement of said 'jaw, means for-feeding said core to said jaw, and means for ejecting said 1 core from said L jaw.

5. Mechanism for inserting a cell cathode core into a can, comprising in com bination, a holder for said core'positioned above said can and registering therewith, a plunger for ejecting said core from said holder, and a deflector extending tlowuward from said holder, said holder being movable so that said deflector may enter said can. .6. In mechanism forj'insertingladry cell cathode core into a can, the combination of a spring actuated coreholder, a deflector on the spring actuated section of said core holder, said deflector being so positioned withv reference to said core-holder and can that when said core hasbeen ejected against frictional resistance through the bottom I or the holder and thereby inserted into'r'said can, said core will be deflected by said de flectorrto make frictional contactwith the inside of said can, and an ejector" for push.- ing said core out ofsaid holder. H

V 7. Apparatus for introducing a drycell cathode into a can of electrolyte without undue splashingof the electrolytecon'sisting essentially of means for introducing the core into the can at a predetermined speed, and means for. thrustingit sidewise in contact with the can and permitting itjto move downward at a decreased speed and while in frictional engagement with the side of to envelope the core.

i ,8. Apparatus for insertingla dry' cell cathode into a can of electrolyte without undue splashing of the electrolyte consist ing essentially of means for: inserting said core into said can ata predetermined speed, meansfor thrusting said core sidewise into contact. withthe wall of the can, .andmeans for lowering it at reduced speed while in the can until the electrolyte has welled up a frictional engagement with the can and ultimately releasing the core and allowing it to settle by gravity to complete the Welling up of the electrolyte around the core.

9. Apparatus for inserting a dry cell cathode core into a can containing liquid electrolyte consisting essentially of means for inserting said core into said electrolyte slowly to prevent undue squirting of said electrolyte or mechanical damage to the core, said core being in frictional contact with the side of said can during its passage into the electrolyte, and means for releasing said core of its frictional contact with said can after entering said electrolyte and allowing said core to settle slowly to the bottom of said can through said electrolyte by its own weight.

10. Apparatus for controlling the speed of inserting a dry cell cathode core into a can containing liquid electrolyte consisting of means for pushing said core at a relatively high speed against frictional resistance of the can during thefirst part of the descent into said can and at relatively slow speed while entering the electrolyte.

11. Apparatus for inserting a dry cell cathode core into acan of electrolyte without undue splashing of the electrolyte consisting essentially of means for lowering the core into the can and means for thrusting it sidewise in contact with the can wall and allowing it to move down into the electrolyte While in frictional engagement with said can wall.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HANS A. RING. 

